Olympic Park Criterium (Lidcombe Crit Round 4) Sunday 24 November 2002 - by John Buckton

Photos kindly supplied by  Ernie Smith Photography 43 Patterson Street Concord NSW 2137 Phone:  02 9743 6236 Email: erniesmithphoto@bigpond.com.au   (Click on images for larger version)	I took over in the absence of Slapper in the smiling department.  I must have enjoyed myself that day.  Well perhaps it's because I was in the Division 4 (hairy legs division- as Brad Cox described it) Click on images for large view

Well all the previous Lidcombe stalwarts failed to front for the final round. Where was Whitey? Where was Mattey Lucas? Where was the Slapper? Well I know where the Slapper was because I rang him up and asked him. He was home with a hangover. Shame on you Slapper!! Gotta admire the Slapper’s honesty however. He could quite easily have told me that the baby kept him up all night or whatever, but no he just quite honestly told me, “I got S….faced.”

Well despite the absence of the aforementioned superstars, a courageous band of new RBCC heroes competed at the Homebush criterium around the railway station near the Olympic Stadium. It was flat and it was fast with four rather tight corners that at least a few came to grief on. (On second thought Slapper, probably best that you did have a hangover). We didn’t have many riders but amazingly we had one in almost every division. Adriano Maradini was the first to fly the flag in the Under 11’s and although we missed his race we were informed that he got a very respectable 5th place. Congratulations Adriano and great to see you flying your club colours at the opens.

Next up was Robbie Cater and Keegan Aitchison. I watched Robbie and Keegan’s race and true to form, Robbie attacked them and attacked them but alas the sprinters know just how good Robbie is now and will not let him get away. I saw Keegan doing some huge efforts out of the saddle to stay in contact with the fast moving peleton but in the end the pace was a little hot and the full time whistle blew for Keegan about 2 to go. In the end it came down to a battle of the Sprinting titans: Phil Stokes, Tyler McLachin and J L Rathbone.

 Stokesy took first but was later disqualified when he rolled out over. I spoke to Phil later and he told me that he had his local bike shop change his rear cluster. He is allowed to run a thirteen at the back and so just checked that his rear derailleur was locked out from traveling across to the smallest cog which he naturally assumed was the 12. After he failed rollout, by half a metre, he checked it out to find that the bike shop had stuck an 11/21 on there instead of a 12/23. He was pretty upset so I didn’t ask him the obvious question, “How did he pass the initial rollout?” Anyway Juniors a lesson here. Be protective of your cluster at all times.

Of course, after the clash of the U17 titans came the premium event of the day. Tony Aitchison and I lined up for the division 4 crit. I was feeling pretty good in the first half of the race but Tony and I seemed to be in a sea of Lidcombe riders. They would send one up the road then none of the others would chase. Finally one got away and I waited for someone to fly out after him so I got jump on their wheel. Whilst I waited I could hear Steve Isaksen on the PA system saying that the Lidcombe rider had a 30 metre lead then a 40 metre lead and I though if he gets to 50 there is no way a wheel suck like myself especially at my current level of fitness can get across to him.

 Then Steve said 60, then 70 and I thought this is too far by heaps but I have to go for it. I jumped out of the saddle and just gave ten tenths. I looked up momentarily and saw the distance coming down hand over foot. I thought this is fantastic, If I can get to this guy we can work together for a one/two finish. I had it all planned when suddenly I felt a presence behind me. “How the hell did they stay there?” I had brought the entire peleton across 70 metres. Now I was stuffed. Oh well nothing more to do than sit on and try to recover for the sprint in about 5 laps time. Got myself in third wheel coming out of the last corner and thought momentarily to myself, “I’ve got this”. We started winding up speed and I got out of the saddle did about two revolutions and the legs were like rubber so just sat straight back down again. After the race Richie Jenkins said to me, “Why didn’t you get out of the saddle when you sprinted” I said to Ritchard, “I did but you had to be quick to see it” I think that the Track meet the night before must have hit the legs harder than I thought. That’s my excuse anyway and I’m sticking to it. About two laps from the end I heard that horrible noise that is made when flesh and Dura-ace is dragged across bitumen. It happened right behind me but I was concentrating pretty hard in getting myself around the tight corners and couldn’t look around. I heard the name Tony Aitchison come over the PA system. Luckily though it wasn’t Tony as he was standing there all smiles after the race. Anyway the good news is that even with rubbery legs I managed to hang on for fourth and jagged some prize money (half of which I later poured back into the rotten parking meters).

The Feature race of the day over, Tony and I sat back (in one of the Jenkin’s very comfortable chairs) to watch the next event, the Women’s race. Janelle Lindsay was flying the RBCC flag in this one. The bunch stayed together for the entire race and I you wouldn’t believe it but it was announced over the PA system that the parking cops were booking cars and I realized I only had 5 minutes left on my ticketed parking so had to bolt.

Came back really quick but missed the finish. Janelle was out of the placings. I didn’t have the heart to press her for a post mortum. Perhaps Janelle might want to give us a follow on report. Good work anyway Janelle.

Next race was the Division 3 men and Will Gray rolled out looking resplendid in his RBCC top and two tone black/grey knicks. The first lap or two I thought Will looked really comfortable. Then lap 3 he came round with his mouth open and it never shut again for the rest of the race. He seemed to grovel to close small gaps and was only just staying in contact with the peleton. After the race he looked positively white. I said, “What’s wrong mate?” Will said, “Don’t anyone go over to corner 3.”

Well it appears that over in corner 3 Will had apparently got rid of some excess weight (some regurgitated orange juice and a muesli bar).At least you learnt from the Gong ride Will otherwise the spectators would have had to endure a pile of calamari rings and some half digested fish cocktails. Suffice to say, Will came in half way in the peleton.

Well nothing much had been going the way of the mighty RBCC, that is until Paddy Jones fresh from a early morning warmup ride, rolled up to the line.

(I know because Paddy had the courtesy of ringing me at 6.15am Sunday morning to tell me he was on his early morning warm up ride and to inquire as to where I was. I told Paddy I was in bed and that I was sleeping as I had ripped my legs off at Tempe on Saturday night trying to keep up with Spongee the whole evening and had subsequently had a late night including several palate cleaners, and was planning to sleep in till about 9am. I can’t tell you how good it was to hear from you Sunday morning Paddy – only joking)  Anyway Paddy rolled out and I remember thinking that I was glad I was not him looking at some of the sprinters in his race including some very big boys from Parramatta including former Junior World Champion, Sean Hopkins. Paddy ensured that those sprinters were gasping however and after several attacks by he and others, a break of 5 established a huge lead. About two to go Sean Hopkins did a HUGE attack and tried to bridge the gap. When it became obvious that he was not going to, he simply sat up and just pulled out of the race. So there was Patrick away with 5. I didn’t recognize any of the others as Sprinters and wondered what Paddy’s strategy would be. I didn’t have to wait long when into the straight came Paddy, leading out with about 300 metres to go. He blew three of them away but one guy stuck to him like glue and came at him right on the line. Boy it was close but as we saw Paddy go around the corner at the end of the straight we saw both his hands go up and we knew in his mind at least he thought he had won it. After an agonizing wait it was confirmed. First Division two, Paddy Jones by a tyre width. Excellent work Paddy !! I forgive you for waking me up.

Then came the second prima event of the day, the Division 1 Men’s race. There was quite a big field including some pretty big names. Like Brent Dawson, Chris Sutton, Ben Brookes, Steve Fitzpatrick, Warren Scott and the King of Heffron, Anthony Spurgeon. Well I told Anthony to look after young Chris and for half the race they looked fantastic to me, sitting on the back. Chris then Spurge on his wheel. There was heaps of testosterone flying at the front with big attacks but they always just seemed to be reeled in by the peleton who just simply upped the pace smoothly and brought them back. I was thinking to myself how fresh Spongee looked out there when all of a sudden to my horror he goes to the front of the pack and starts doing a big turn. I thought to myself, “That’s not too bad” it the downwind side, fairly easy going there”.
Then to my horror I look across and see him out of the saddle and driving the bunch up the windward leg. I felt like a bit of a party pooper when he came past and the Jenkins clan and the rest of RBCC were shouting, “Go Chris” and I was shouting, “Not too much at the front Spongee !!”. Anyway about 5 to go, Spongee launches off the front and the rest of the big hitters seem to just look at each other and let him go. I don’t know what he must have heard when he came past us again because the Jenkins clan were screaming out “GO” and in unison, I was screaming out, “NO!!” Well with about 4 to go I thought what the hell, he is not going to blow up at this stage in the race and his father is getting great movies of Sponge out the front. I am signaling to Ernie Smith and he is giving me the thumbs up to indicate that he is getting good shots of the Sponge giving it to Division 1. But alas all good things must come to an end and the Peleton put on a big shift in speed and reeled young Spongee in with a couple to go. On the last corner it was the King who came out first and clicked down into his beloved 11 cog with 300 metres to go and the wind behind him. Spurge was really travelling when he went past us but with Brent Dawson right on his wheel. They had basically rode away from the rest of the sprinters and then about 50 to go Brent moved alongside Anthony with such pace on that Anthony knew that he was destined for 2nd place in this one. So there it was Dawso first, Spurgee second. I missed who came third because I then started scanning for Spongee. Spongee came in a very respectable mid bunch in the sprint. It was an awesome ride by Spongee and we are all really proud of you. So congratulations Spongee !!

So that was the last event on the Cycling NSW Road program for 2002. Congratulations to all those who rode. Thanks to all RBCC members who turned up to lend support and cheer us on including new member Roland Furugia (Sorry Roland I forgot how to spell your surname). Everyone had a fantastic afternoon.